Botanical Family · Malpighiales

Malpighiaceae

Malpighia Family

11 speciesOrder Malpighiales8+ well-known plants

The Malpighiaceae family (Malpighia Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Malpighiales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 11 species across 7 genera. Members range from shrubs to lianas. Well-represented genera include Malpighia, Aspidopterys and Acridocarpus. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Kanara Climber, Bokadvel and Nance.

Browse all 11 species ↓

Representative specimen · Malpighiaceae

Key pattern

Opposite, simple leaves, often bearing tiny stalked glands on the leafstalk or blade underside; five-petalled flowers have distinctively clawed, fringed petals and ripen into winged samaras or drupes on twining lianas.

Leaf-gland nectaries (extrafloral nectaries) attract ants that in turn help defend the plant from herbivores — an early-documented example of ant-plant mutualism.

Identify the species

Which Malpighiaceae species is this?

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Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?

Pink

White

Yellow

HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?

Climbing vine

Shrub

Tree

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Malpighiaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Notable members

Kanara ClimberAspidopterys canarensisBokadvelAspidopterys cordataNanceByrsonima crassifoliaThriallis, Rain Of Gold, Spray Of Gold, Slender GoldshowerGalphimia gracilisClustered Hiptage, Hiptage, Helicopter Flower, Mahavi LathaHiptage benghalensisMiniature HollyMalpighia coccigeraAcerolaMalpighia emarginataBarbados Cherry, Acerola, Cerejeira, MalphigiaMalpighia glabra

Families that can look similar

Euphorbiaceae

Compare against Euphorbiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Euphorbiaceae

Clusiaceae

Compare against Clusiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Clusiaceae

Flacourtiaceae

Compare against Flacourtiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Flacourtiaceae

Passifloraceae

Compare against Passifloraceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Passifloraceae

All 11 species in MALPIGHIACEAE

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